Software for a beginner to design and learn about circuits with?

> Hi,
>
> I'm interested in learning about circuitry as a hobby and to eventually
> create a few small projects that I had in mind, such as guitar pedals
> and a few audio devices, but obviously I have to start small.
>
> I'm somewhat competent with programming/mathematics, have some text
> books, and I do know a -little- analogue+digital circuit theory, but
> I've never had a real hands-on attempt by myself before so I'll be
> pretty much attacking this as though I know nothing.
>
> Can anyone recommend some software (free or cheap) that would be good
> for a beginner to use to learn about circuit behaviour and design some
> circuits with?  Are there programs out there that actually allow you to
> drop in popular microcontrollers and model their behaviour as well?
>
> Thanks,
> Matt.

> msv-groups wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I'm interested in learning about circuitry as a hobby and to
>> eventually create a few small projects that I had in mind, such as
>> guitar pedals and a few audio devices, but obviously I have to start
>> small.
>>
>> I'm somewhat competent with programming/mathematics, have some text
>> books, and I do know a -little- analogue+digital circuit theory, but
>> I've never had a real hands-on attempt by myself before so I'll be
>> pretty much attacking this as though I know nothing.
>>
>> Can anyone recommend some software (free or cheap) that would be good
>> for a beginner to use to learn about circuit behaviour and design some
>> circuits with?  Are there programs out there that actually allow you
>> to drop in popular microcontrollers and model their behaviour as well?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Matt.
>
>
> LTSpice, from Linear Technology is nice, and free.  It doesn't have a
> wide library of device models -- but it's free.
>
> Modeling microprocessor behavior is more problematic.  If you want a
> program that'll integrate the microprocessor into an analog circuit
> model so you can investigate the interaction of software with the
> circuit, you're out of luck.  Such programs, if they exist at all, would
> cost in the high 10's of kilobucks, if not 100's of kilobucks.  Some
> processor manufacturer's _do_ have simulations for their processors that
> are nice, but they won't interact with an external model.
>

> Tim Wescott wrote:
>
>> msv-groups wrote:
>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I'm interested in learning about circuitry as a hobby and to
>>> eventually create a few small projects that I had in mind, such as
>>> guitar pedals and a few audio devices, but obviously I have to start
>>> small.
>>>
>>> I'm somewhat competent with programming/mathematics, have some text
>>> books, and I do know a -little- analogue+digital circuit theory, but
>>> I've never had a real hands-on attempt by myself before so I'll be
>>> pretty much attacking this as though I know nothing.
>>>
>>> Can anyone recommend some software (free or cheap) that would be good
>>> for a beginner to use to learn about circuit behaviour and design
>>> some circuits with?  Are there programs out there that actually allow
>>> you to drop in popular microcontrollers and model their behaviour as
>>> well?
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Matt.
>>
>>
>>
>> LTSpice, from Linear Technology is nice, and free.  It doesn't have a
>> wide library of device models -- but it's free.
>>
>> Modeling microprocessor behavior is more problematic.  If you want a
>> program that'll integrate the microprocessor into an analog circuit
>> model so you can investigate the interaction of software with the
>> circuit, you're out of luck.  Such programs, if they exist at all,
>> would cost in the high 10's of kilobucks, if not 100's of kilobucks.  
>> Some processor manufacturer's _do_ have simulations for their
>> processors that are nice, but they won't interact with an external model.
>>
>
>
>  Hey Tim. Check out the price list for Proteus VSM. It's not super
> cheap, but it's way under $10,000 especially if you're a student. Just
> today I simulated a PIC16F876 CCP1 in PWM mode --> 4th-order RC filter
> network --> buffered DC by an OP193 spice model... true mixed-mode
> simulation does exist! :)
>
> -M

> Hi,
>
> I'm interested in learning about circuitry as a hobby and to eventually
> create a few small projects that I had in mind, such as guitar pedals
> and a few audio devices, but obviously I have to start small.
>
> I'm somewhat competent with programming/mathematics, have some text
> books, and I do know a -little- analogue+digital circuit theory, but
> I've never had a real hands-on attempt by myself before so I'll be
> pretty much attacking this as though I know nothing.
>
> Can anyone recommend some software (free or cheap) that would be good
> for a beginner to use to learn about circuit behaviour and design some
> circuits with?  Are there programs out there that actually allow you to
> drop in popular microcontrollers and model their behaviour as well?
>
> Thanks,
> Matt.